Evaluation of mechanically stabilized earth retaining walls for different soil–structure interaction methods: A review

Abstract

The method for soil preservation has been completely revolutionized thanks to internally reinforced walls. Although such walls have gained significant awareness in many parts of the globe, this construction technique has only been extensively utilized lately. The primary reason may be that the costs associated with constructing such walls are likely higher than those associated with constructing conventional externally reinforced walls. The construction methods involved may be excessively time demanding. The term “mechanically stabilized Earth systems” refers to an internally stabilized fill structure that is made up of an unreinforced concrete levelling pad, precast concrete face panel units and coping units, selected granular backfill (reinforced backfill), a subsurface drainage system, and reinforcing elements (high-strength, metallic, or polymeric inclusions) to create a reinforced soil mass which is utilized to stabilize the backfill. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical overview of the mechanically stabilized Earth retaining walls by focusing on the necessary aspects required for their design, as well as to discuss how the change of the characteristics of the soil influences lateral displacements and stress responses that occur under various ground movements. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that the dynamic behaviour of the cantilever wall is very sensitive to the frequency characteristics of the seismic record and the interaction between the soil and the structure.